Summary: Occasionally we all find ourselves in a position where we face a prickly difference of opinions with our peers. When Peter returned from visiting the house of the Gentile Cornelius, his Jewish friends cried out in anger, "You went to the uncircumcised men

Illustration:No great advance has been made in science, politics or religion without controversy.

Lyman Beecher

1. Occasionally we all find ourselves in a position where we face a prickly difference of opinions with our peers. When Peter returned from visiting the house of the Gentile Cornelius, his Jewish friends cried out in anger, "You went to the uncircumcised men and ate with them!" (Acts 11:3)

Example: It is hard to imagine the intensity of the indignation that the Jews felt for the Gentiles in the first century. Most Jewish people thought that Peter had betrayed their trust. They accused him of doing something that was unlawful.

Peter obeyed the will of God but then experienced hostility like he had never known before. When you find yourself in a place of contention remain steadfast, trusting and wise in your Spirit controlled loving responses. The key is remembering to pick your battles carefully so you can respond with a God directed perception of your responsibilities.

Application: Ask the Lord to help you to remain faithful to His responsibilities while being quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to become angry or fearful. (James 1:19)

2. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to fight your battles for you as He brings conviction to those who are contending with you. Jesus said, "He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment." (John 16:7,8)

Application: Ask the Lord to help leaders respond to the Spirit’s conviction of their:

a). Misperceptions of how Godâs truth is to be applied by each individual according to God’s directives

b). Misunderstanding of how God is bringing changes, growth and improvements to the church, individuals and its ministries

c). Abuses of power that may be demonstrated by their scoffing, threats or intrigues.

d). Unwillingness to submit to the sovereign will of God in all things

e). Failure to see Christ as the head of His church who controls all things

f). Misinterpretation of the truth of the scriptures g). Failure to speak the truth in love while growing up in all aspects into Him who is the head of the church

h). Political manipulations and dependencies on phony barriers

I). Over reliance on rules, regulations, and man made procedures that may no longer be applicable

j). Carnal practices

k). Their desires for control, authority and power that overwhelm their desire to submit to the total will of God

l). Insecure feelings that may cause them to lose control, influence or a sense of power

m). Prideful desires to be something that God has not intended for them to be

n). Rational explanations that are not responsive to the Spirit’s directives

q). Failure to remember that we are called to follow His priorities of giving God glory, helping His church grow in quality and quantity and serving the church by helping to fulfill Christ’s great commission

Occasionally we all find ourselves in a position where we face a prickly difference of opinions with our peers. When Peter returned from visiting the house of the Gentile Cornelius, his Jewish friends cried out in anger, "You went to the uncircumcised men

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